Technical ability matters, but remote teams also depend heavily on written communication, documentation, time management, and the ability to raise problems early. A talented person who disappears when stuck can become difficult to manage at a distance.
Students can practice these habits before applying internationally. Use task boards, write clear updates, document decisions, work with version control, meet agreed deadlines, and communicate when a deadline is at risk.
Project-based internships are useful when they simulate the operating conditions of distributed work rather than treating remote work as simply working from home.
The goal is to become someone a team can trust across time zones, not merely someone with a laptop and internet connection.